Patterns of proton therapy use in pediatric cancer management in 2016: An international survey

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Radiotherapy
• Pediatric Medicine

Background:

• Proton therapy offers advanced radiation treatment for pediatric cancers.
• Understanding current global usage patterns is crucial for future research on long-term effects.
• Late effects of proton therapy in children require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess worldwide patterns of proton therapy utilization in patients under 22 years old.
• To establish a baseline for observational studies on the late effects of proton therapy in pediatric cancer survivors.
• To gather data on patient demographics, tumor types, and treatment techniques.

Main Methods:

• A global survey was conducted in 2016, inviting 54 proton therapy centers treating pediatric patients.
• Data collected included patient numbers by age group, treatment intent, delivery technique, and tumor types.
• Forty centers participated, representing a 74% response rate across 11 countries.

Main Results:

• 1,860 pediatric patients received proton therapy in 2016 across North America, Europe, and Asia.
• The majority of patients were under 10 years old, with Central Nervous System (CNS) tumors being the most frequent diagnosis.
• Pencil beam scanning was used in approximately half of the treatments, and treatment patterns were similar across continents.

Conclusions:

• This is the first global assessment of proton therapy use in pediatric cancer.
• Central Nervous System (CNS) tumors are still the primary indication, but extra-cranial tumors are increasingly treated.
• Low patient numbers per center emphasize the necessity of international research collaborations to evaluate long-term proton therapy outcomes in children.